Summary
The latestStar Warsseries to drop on Disney+,Ahsoka, is a direct continuation of storylines and character arcs from the animated showRebels– but is it necessary to watchRebelsbefore watchingAhsoka? The character Ahsoka Tano has always been close to co-creator Dave Filoni’s heart, and nearly everyStar Warsproject Filoni has developed (fromThe Clone WarstoRebelstoThe Mandalorian) has featured Ahsoka in a major role. InAhsoka, Filoni finally lets the iconic ex-Jedi ronin take center stage in her own solo adventure. But her solo adventure follows on from her ensemble adventures with the rest of the cast ofRebels. So, isRebelsrequired viewing before watchingAhsoka?
Taking place betweenthe rise of the Empire inRevenge of the Sithand the Rebellion’s first meaningful victory inA New Hope,Rebelsrevolves around the crew of a light freighter called the Ghost as they embark on covert missions against the Imperial forces spreading through the galaxy. In narrative terms,Ahsokaessentially plays likeRebelsseason 5 in live-action, bringing back a bunch of fan-favorite characters and picking up some unresolved plot threads, but it’s very much its own story. TheAhsoka/Rebelsconnection follows the same principles as the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Marvel movies are designed to be accessible to newcomers, but it’s helpful to have some background information.
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You Don’t Have To Watch Rebels Before Ahsoka (But It Helps)
It’s not strictly necessary to watchRebelsbeforeAhsoka, but it doesn’t hurt to have a passing familiarity with some of the key plot points fromRebels– particularly the loose ends left in the finale thatAhsokapicks up. The most important things to know are recapped in some expository lines of dialogue, includingthe mysterious disappearance of Ezra Bridger. Ezra was the main protagonist ofRebelsand he’s been missing in action since the series ended. He was last seen sacrificing himself to the Purrgil to ensure Grand Admiral Thrawn would be defeated.
At the end ofRebels, Ahsoka headed out to find Ezra. InThe Mandalorian, she was hell-bent on finding Thrawn, likely as a stepping stone to find Ezra. InAhsoka, she still hasn’t found Thrawn, but she will encounter both Thrawn and Ezra by the time the season finale rolls around. Since this is all covered in the first couple of episodes ofAhsoka, newcomers should be able to follow the story without catching up onRebels. Allthe major characters fromRebelsare so well-defined, and get reintroduced so poignantly and succinctly, that aStar Warsfan who had never heard of any of them before watchingAhsokawould know everything they need to know about them by the end of the first episode.
Which Rebels Characters Appear In Ahsoka?
Ahsoka’s two closest confidants in her new spin-off series are both familiar figures from the supporting cast ofRebels. She teams up with Mandalorian warrior Sabine Wren, the Ghost crew’s resident weapons expert. Sabine is arguably the most rebellious character in theRebelscast. She’s played brilliantly in live-action form by Natasha Liu Bordizzo, who captures her anti-authority attitude perfectly. Ahsoka and Sabine are joined by Hera Syndulla, who acted as a mother figure to her crewmates on the Ghost. She became an actual mother to her son, Jacen Syndulla. InAhsoka, Hera’s maternal instincts kick in to mediate a disagreement between Ahsoka and Sabine. In live-action form, Hera is played spectacularly by Mary Elizabeth Winstead. Filoni also reprises his voice role asHera’s trusty droid companion, Chopper.
Grand Admiral Thrawn is being set up as the big bad of the series.Thrawn is a high-ranking commander in the Empire, likely to be a key figure in the Imperial Remnants inThe Mandaloriancontinuity. Original voice actor Lars Mikkelsen is reprising the role in live-action for his appearance inAhsoka(as teased in the trailers). It’s up to Filoni to write Thrawn in a way that lives up to both the character’s legacy and Mikkelsen’s iconic performance. Thrawn is a unique bad guy in theStar Warsuniverse – as a cold-hearted military strategist, Thrawn is characterized more like aStar Trekvillain than aStar Warsvillain – which has earned him a reputation as one of the franchise’s most compelling baddies.
Ezra hasn’t appeared inAhsokayet, but he has loomed large as an integral off-screen presence, and he’s confirmed to show up later inAhsoka’s eight-episode run. Live-action Ezra will be played by Eman Esfandi, who replaces Taylor Gray from the animated series. InRebels, Ezra was a former thief who was taken on as a Jedi apprenticeunder the tutelage of Kanan Jarrus.Star Warsfans with no knowledge of Ezra’s history might not enjoy the maximum impact when Ahsoka finally tracks Ezra down and reunites with him. So, whether or not it’s worth checking outRebelsbefore watchingAhsokadepends on whether it’s worth watching 75 episodes of oneStar Warsshow to pick up on all the Easter eggs and callbacks in eight episodes of anotherStar Warsshow.
